Puppies and Pussies

Thursday, March 15, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks struggled to a mixed finish Thursday after weak earnings news from 3M and other companies weighed on the market.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 12 points, but broader indexes posted slight gains. The market had risen steadily in the opening moments of trading following a surprise drop in first-time claims for unemployment benefits, pushing the Dow up as high as 53.

3M Co. set a negative tone with a downbeat view on the economy and a lower forecast for full-year earnings. 3M's dim assessment of the U.S. and European economies was a sobering reminder that growth in many developed nations remains weak. The maker of everything from Post-It notes to …

The last time AP Valentine finished ahead of Congaree, he wassecond in the Preakness.

Should AP Valentine beat Congaree today, he most likely will bethe winner of the 11/8-mile Jim Dandy at Saratoga.

The speedy Congaree and the pace-stalking AP Valentine are theclass of the race. The field of six 3-year-olds includes a colt, KidRigo, who will be making his U.S. debut after winning one of sevenstarts in Panama.

It will be the fourth straight Grade I stakes for Congaree, thirdin both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and winner of the Swaps onJuly 15 at Hollywood Park.

The $600,000 Jim Dandy will be the fifth consecutive Grade I racefor AP Valentine. He was …

LOS ANGELES - Not everyone may have Charlie Sheen's "Adonis DNA"but people may soon be able to wear it, chew on it, drink it andexperience it in a videogame.

Within two weeks of Sheen's firing from television's top-ratedcomedy, a company with ties to the actor applied to trademark 22 ofhis catchphrases, including "Duh, Winning," "Vatican Assassin,""Tiger Blood" and "Rock Star From Mars."

The former "Two and a Half Men" star introduced the world to manyof the phrases during a media blitz in February and early March thatSheen dubbed a "Media Tsunami." That trademark is still up-for-grabs, but the applications point to a possible merchandising …

JERUSALEM - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday that Israeli and Palestinian leaders have agreed to begin meeting every two weeks and that a "path of cooperation" with the new Palestinian unity government exists.

The new government, a coalition between the Islamist Hamas group and the more moderate Fatah, was inaugurated last week.

Rice spoke at a press conference in Jerusalem after three days of meetings with Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian leaders. She arrived in the region Sunday for her fourth …